Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1887-04-07
The Last OF the BufYaloes.

was told when came here two
months ago that il wanted to find out
what was trustworthy concerning the
determination Of the buffalo, Capt Jack
Bridges was the man 10 see. As
Bridges was then hunting in the Serial
ers Mountains in Mexico, | took the
cars to Gallego. where. through the
courtesy of r. 4. Comfort, Superinten-
dent of the Mexican Central Railroad
Company, | was provided with an in
offensive bronco to ride over to Bridges
camp. some thirty eight miles.
Capt. Jack, who for ycars past has
been one of the most distinguished and
fearless hunters in the West, was the
first man to make contract to provide
a large number of buffalo hides. The
idea suggested itself TO pelt-dealing
firm in Leavenworth, Kas.. who sent
for Bridges, telling him TO procure ! 200
hides at once, as they wished TO try
them in the English market. Bridges
signed the contract. and. hiring lot
Of 'skinners," began his destructive
warfare against the bison. In five
weeks and four days he killed with his
own hand l.l43 buffaloes, and the hides
of these animals constituted the first
Shipment Of buffalo-robes to Europe.
While the contract was very lucrative.
owing to the great abundance Of the
animals, the slaughter Disguised
Bridges. who was natural-born sports
man. 50 much that he refused to be in
strumental in the future in any whole
sale destruction Of good meat. He
says that lie has only been sorry but
once for what he did. and that has been
always. Since then he has killed about
5000 head, but only when meat was
required by the different expeditions
for which he was guide. Having shot
buffalo from British Columbia TO Texas,
and having lived for the past thirty-five
years on the great game ranges Of the
West, he is well qualified to speak au-
thoritatively on the subject.
AS far ~ / know" said Bridges.
when talking OH the subject. "and Try
To keep myself posted, there are not
over 500 buffaloes left in the United
States. There are about 200 in the
Yellowstone Park, and these viii be the
sole survivors in a year or two. In the
panhandle Of Texas there are about
100; these do not include those on the
ranch of Charley Goodnight, who has a
lot of them semi-domesticated. Good
nights ranch is near Vernon. in Arm
strong county. There are about 10
/ in Kansas and the Indian Territory,
and five or si1 in Colorado, ten in
Montana, and five in Dakota. The
| others are in little herd in an out-of-
the-way place which do not wish made
public"
This. then, sums up the butfaloes
left?n
YES. though there may he seen a
I struggling pair or two in Southern
Texas I am told that two old bulls
were seen south Of San Antonio the
other day. and that they were followed
up and one killed. But / have been
told twice recently. once by an Apache
and the other time by a Wacoe Indian,
that on the big plains. 500 miles south
of here, in a country very rarely trav-
eled there is large herd. Twill know
soon. for | am going down there this
spring But the drouth has been SO
severe in Mexico this season that the
game has suffered terribly. and has had
to travel many miles for water. "--El
Paso (Ter-) Letter.